Speaking on the latest episode of Koffee With Karan season 9 where she appeared with her actor-husband Vijay Deverakonda, she opened up about the trolling she has faced, her decision to work across film industries and why she sees no reason to be defensive about her South Indian roots. Rashmika Mandanna has often found herself at the centre of online criticism over her accent. She also spoke about the satisfaction of playing very different characters in Animal and The Girlfriend .
But the actor says she has never wanted such comments to limit the kind of work she takes up.
Because she wanted to challenge herself as a performer, the actor added that she began experimenting with different kinds of films early on. Because i’m like, I’m able to play them all, you know,. Because they said I had a South Indian accent, but I am from the South of India, “I particularly didn’t have an issue with that. Because if I’m able to dub in all these languages by myself, that’s a lot of hard work, so I was like, it was a pride for me.
“Ever since I started working in the film industry, you know, I’ve been criticised or trolled for one thing or the other, like either my performance, or the language, or the acting, or just the accent, or anything. So for me, I never wanted to sort of put a barrier for myself. I didn’t want to just work in one industry. I wanted to work in them all. I didn’t want to speak just one language. Playing characters with contrasting personalities has been part of that plan, and the difference between Animal and The Girlfriend is something she particularly appreciates. “So very early on in my career, I started doing all kinds of films. Yeah? I’m like, I wanted it that way,” she added. So I am going to have an accent. It’s unreasonable to think otherwise,” she stated confidently. The actor also spoke about dubbing for her own films in different languages. However, her directors have so far preferred that she dub for herself. “But every film that I’m a part of, of course, I go and give this option to my directors, saying I’m not the one who’s going to feel bad if you want to dub with someone else, you know? But none of my directors actually wanted to dub with someone else. They wanted me to dub for myself.
I wanted to speak all languages,” she said. Rashmika, however, said she does not understand why having a South Indian accent should be treated as a problem. She said she is open to the idea of a dubbing artist stepping in if a director feels another voice would suit the character better. But at the same time, if I could do it, there’s nothing like that, you know,” she said.
So today, when I’m a part of a brilliant film like an Animal and a Girlfriend, it gives me great satisfaction as an actor. So today, when you say, okay, there’s a Girlfriend and there’s an Animal, like it’s so different, but you’re a part of both of them.
From her acting to the languages she speaks, she has faced comments about several aspects of her work. However, she never wanted those opinions to dictate her career choices or stop her from exploring different industries.
Rashmika said that criticism has followed her since the beginning of her career.
